PAM. 

JK6BEA 


Bn  Evening 
Bmong  tbe 
Cop= Inicts 


A Group  of  Korean  Lassies 


facts  Culled  by  Clara  M-  Cushman 

Price,  Ten  Cents. 

Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
36  Bromfield  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 


the 


Top- knots  * 


H Dialogue  for  “^oung 
Ladies  and  6entlemen 


JFacts  GulleO  bg  Clara  /lb.  Cusbman 


Platform  arranged  to  represent  a parlor.  Mary,  the  chairman  of  the  program 
committee,  has  list  of  previous  assignments.  Other  members  have  papers,  maga- 
zines, books  or  clippings.  Some  of  the  longest  may  be  read,  but  most  should  be 
given  in  an  off-hand,  natural  way. 


Characters. — Leader,  Program  Committee,  Mary,  Ruth,  Grace,  Emma,  Sarah, 
Lucy,  Abbie,  Gladys,  Efhe,  Edith,  Florence,  Eva,  Clara,  George,  Henry. 


Leader — In  behalf  of I extend  to  you  all  a cordial  welcome.  It 

is  our  purpose  to  represent  a meeting  of  a program  committee  preparing  for  a 
Korean  evening.  They  are  supposed  to  have  had  one  meeting,  at  which  their  parts 
were  assigned.  We  will  thus  present  to  you,  in  an  informal  way,  a few  facts  about 
Korea,  which  we  trust  will  prove  of  interest  to  you. 

Mary — As  our  committee  is  nearly  all  here,  we  will  begin  at  once.  Ruth,  will 
you  and  Grace  please  sit  down  in  front  and  act  as  critics  and  audience?  (Girls  take 
seats  in  front,  while  Mary  looks  over  her  list.)  Emma,  we  asked  you  to  find  some- 
thing about  the  country. 

Emma  (reads) — A cross-eyed  Korean  officer  was  followed  in  office  by  another 
cross-eyed  man.  A gentleman  asked,  “Why  do  you  always  have  a cross-eyed  man 
in  this  office?”  “Ah,  your  honor,”  was  the  reply,  “we  need  to  be  cross-eyed,  to  keep 
one  eye  on  Japan,  and  one  on  China.”  Korea,  as  all  the  world  knows,  has  long  been 
the  bone  of  contention  between  these  two  countries,  which  has  not  always  been  good 
for  the  bone. 

The  peninsula  is  about  as  large  as  Utah,  600  miles  long,  about  135  broad,  touch- 
ing Russia  upon  the  north  eleven  miles.  Chemulpo,  the  port  of  the  capital,  is  thirty 
hours’  sail  from  Shanghai,  and  about  forty  from  Nagasaki.  Near  the  coast  are 
many  islands,  with  broad  rivers  in  the  interior.  It  is  so  hilly  that  it  is  said  to  re- 
semble “a  sea  in  a fierce  gale.”  Koreans  often  ask  foreigners,  “Do  your  mountains 
sit  so  close  together,  in  your  honorable  country,  as  in  ours?”  In  some  parts  the 
scenery  equals  that  of  Japan.  The  climate  is  good,  the  winters  are  called  “absolutely 
superb,”  natural  resources  are  rich.  Foreigners  have  grown  delicious  Bartlett  pears, 
corn  with  twenty-six  rows  in  the  ear,  and  pumpkins  as  big  as  a clothes  basket,  so 
big  that  it  took  two  men  to  lift  one  into  the  “jiggy.” 

George — Whew!  I’d  like  pumpkins  like  those  for  jacklanterns. 

Sarah — Where  did  you  get  that  story  about  the  cross-eyed  man? 


AN  EVENING  AMONG  THE  TOP-KNOTS 


Emma — Oh,  I read  that  in  the  Woman’s  Missionary  Friend,  where  I get  lots  of 
interesting  things. 

Sarah — I never  found  them. 

Emma — Do  you  read  it? 

Sarah — Well, — I — can’t  say  I do. 

Emma — ’Tis  strange  you  don’t  find  it  interesting,  isn't  it?  ( All  laugh  or  make 
natural  observations.) 

Abbie — I wonder  if  you  would  like  this  poem  that  I had  at  school. 

Mary — Let's  hear  it. 

Abbie — It  is  called  “That  Far-away  Land  of  Chosen.” 

There’s  a singular  land,  far  over  the  seas, 

Which  is  known  to  the  world  as  Korea. 

And  there's  nothing  to  charm  one,  and  nothing  to  please, 

And  of  cleanliness,  not  an  idea. 

Where  a lucid  description  of  persons  and  things 
Quite  baffles  the  readiest  pen, 

And  stirs  up  strange  qualms  in  the  poet  who  sings 
Of  the  far-away  land  of  Chosen. 

Where  the  garments  are  made  on  a very  queer  plan 
And  are  something  quite  out  of  the  common. 

The  women  wear  pantaloons  just  like  a man, 

Young  men  braid  their  hair  like  a woman. 

The  married  man  gathers  his  hair  at  the  top, 

In  a knot  much  resembling  a wen, 

The  fc^pale  coiffure  is  a huge  ugly  mop 
In  the  far-away  land  of  Chosen. 

Where  foreigners  (lock  to  improve  the  ideas 
Of  the  natives,  and  help  them  make  money, 

Where  hives  are  well  filled  by  the  Korean  bees, 

But  the  foreigners  get  all  the  honey. 

Where  the  shop-keepers  ought  to  be  rolling  in  wealth, 

From  the  prices  they  charge  one,  but  then 
It  is  not  at  all  likely  they  go  for  their  health, 

To  that  far-away  land  of  Chosen. 

Where  the  King  in  a manner  becoming  a prince, 

Is  charmed  with  each  fresh  innovation, 

And  plays  with  postoffices,  steamers  and  mints, 

At  a grievous  expense  to  the  nation. 

Where  those  who  escape  never  care  to  return, 

To  that  “Morning  Calm  Country”  again, 

Where  there’s  nothing  on  earth  that  would  cause  one  to  yearn 
For  that  far-away  land  of  Chosen. 

Mary — What  do  you  critics  think  about  that? 

Ruth — I like  it. 

Grace — It  is  bright  enough,  but  it  is  pretty  hard  on  Korea. 

Mary — Well,  if  we  use  it  we  must  say  that  it  was  written  by  a naval  officer,  and 
not  by  a missionary.  Is  Korea  a Llermit  Nation? 

Gladys — Thirty  years  ago  it  was.  One  often  sees  old  wayside  tablets  that  say, 
“If  you  meet  a foreigner,  kill  him.  He  who  lets  him  go  by  is  a traitor  to  his  coun- 

3 


AN  EVENING  AMONG  THE  TOP-KNOTS 


try.’’  Every  door  was  closed  to  every  nation.  No  commerce  brought  wealth  to 
the  people,  no  travelers  visited  the  country.  Koreans  had  seen  a few  white  men, 
and  promptly  killed  most  of  them.  The  white  man  seemed  a wild,  thieving  savage, 
his  language  sounded  like  the  chattering  of  magpies,  his  dress  and  customs  seemed 
strange  and  repulsive. 

In  1876  Korea  concluded  a treaty  with  Japan;  not  till  six  years  later  did  she 
sign  a treaty  with  America.  Dr.  Heber  Jones  says : “America  led  the  way  in 
opening  up  Korea,  diplomatically.  Christian  missions  immediately  followed,  and  in 
the  van,  commanding  one  wing  of  the  advance  guard,  was  our  Methodist  Church.” 
The  other  wing  was  Presbyterian. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  between  China  and  Japan,  Korea  became  an  inde- 
pendent country.  The  old  archway,  on  the  road  to  China,  through  which  so  much 
tribute  had  been  carried,  was  torn  down,  and  a beautiful  Independence  Arch  erected. 

Mary — What  did  you  find  about  the  people,  Lucy? 

Lucy  (reads) — There  are  about  15,000,000.  Mrs.  Bishop  claimed  that  they  are 
a handsome  people.  The  missionaries  say  they  are  a “gentle,  friendly,  warm- 
hearted, open-handed,  generous,  patient  and  long-suffering  people.”  Koreans  say, 
“Our  race  descended  from  the  gods,  slightly  mixed  with  the  Chinese.”  I found 
pictures  of  Korean  girls  that  were  very  quaint  and  attractive. 

Nine-tenths  of  the  people  are  farmers,  even  though  they  have  other  business. 
To  describe  the  ignorance  and  simplicity  of  the  farmers,  a Korean  invented  this 
fable : “A  fish  from  the  sea  fell  into  a well,  where  lived  a frog.  ‘Where  did  you 
come  from?’  said  the  frog.  ‘From  the  big  ocean.’  ‘How  big  i^it?  Is  it  as  big  as 
this  well?’  and  he  hopped  across  the  well.” 

The  missionaries  found  that  they  had  no  Western  learning,  but  from  an  Oriental 
view-point  they  were  well  educated  and  cultivated.  They  were  “wholly  heathen,” 
and  very  superstitious. 

“The  farmers  have  to  fight  for  their  wells,  and  the  young  widows,  who  are 
likely  to  be  seized  at  any  time  and  borne  away  forcibly  and  married  to  some  wid- 
ower. One  day,  after  a hard  fight,  a widower  and  eleven  friends  secured  a widow 
and  carried  her  off.  But  he  got  the  wrong  woman,  and  the  next  day  the  farmers 
followed  her  up,  tore  down  the  widower’s  house,  and  bore  her  home  in  triumph.” 
Many  writers  tell  of  the  widows’  being  carried  off. 

Henry — My  stars ! Young  widows  seem  to  be  popular  the  world  over,  except 
in  India.  Imagine  anything  like  that  in  America,  though! 

Lucy — Don’t  interrupt,  Henry.  No  American  widower  would  have  spirit 
enough  for  such  a deed.  But  listen  to  this  from  Bishop  Cranston : “As  we  looked 
from  the  ship’s  deck,  we  saw  long  processions  of  uniformly  dressed  men,  in  white, 
with  similar  head-gear.  They  looked  like  priests,  but  were  all  classes  of  men, 
about  their  ordinary  business,  which  seemed  to  be  loafing  and  smoking.  They  walk 
with  a long  stride,  and  more  or  less  of  a swagger,  in  their  unvarying  dress  of 
ghostly  white.  Same  hat  covering,  same  little  top-knot,  same  long  white  coat  reach- 
ing to  the  ankles,  same  baggy  trousers,  same  white  padded  foot  and  ankle  gear, 
same  peculiar  shoes,  same  belt  about  the  waist,  same  fan  in  the  same  hand,  same 
dull,  quiet,  meek  and  otherwise  inscrutable  expressions.  We  saw  few  women,  but 

4 


AN  EVENING  AMONG  THE  TOP-KNOTS 


the  same  sameness  of  dress.  But,”  he  adds,  “enter  one  of  our  churches,  and  see  how 
the  faces  can  brighten  up.  How  they  listen,  how  they  pray,  how  their  bodies  re- 
spond to  the  melodies  of  praise.  Those  dirty,  naked  children,  see  them  in  the 
school  room,  or  in  the  front  seats  of  the  worshipers,  and  see  what  a transformation.” 

And  just  hear  this  about  the  women.  Very  competent  but  also  very  hard-worked. 
I call  them.  “The  man  of  Korea  appears  like  a gentleman  of  leisure,  the  woman 
drudges.  The  women  of  Korea  cook  200.000  bags  of  rice  every  day.  Xo  man  tailors 
share  with  the  Korean  woman  in  clothing  the  race.  She  launders  all  the  garments. 
In  the  streets  at  all  hours  of  the  night  one  hears  her  pit-a-pat,  pit-a-pat,  as  with 
painful  care  she  irons  the  white  clothes  for  husband,  children,  and  self,  deprived  of 
physical  comforts,  social  and  intellectual  privileges,  the  slave  of  man.  The  garments 
are  ripped  apart,  and  washed  at  the  brook,  then  pounded  till  they  shine.  (Note:  This 
may  be  represented  in  the  room  or  just  outside  the  door.  The  cloth  is  rolled  over 
a round  piece  of  zuood,  and  pounded,  women  sitting  on  the  door  ivith  a stick  in  each 
hand.) 

Mary — Can  you  tell  us,  Effie,  about  the  common  homes. 

Effie — They  are  like  little  huts,  plastered  over  with  mud.  They  have  sliding 
doors,  windows  of  oiled  paper,  and  inside  are  two  or  three  rooms  six  or  eight  feet 
square.  There  is  little  furniture,  perhaps  a screen,  and  a picture  on  the  wall,  with  a 
pile  of  bedding  in  the  corner.  The  floors  make  warm  beds  because  of  stone  flues  run- 
ning underneath  in  one  end  of  which  fires  are  built.  At  meal-time  each  person  has 
a small  table,  about  sixteen  inches  high.  I am  sure  I should  not  like  to  live  in  them  1 

Mary — Oh.  Effie ! I am  afraid  you  would  not  make  a good  missionary.  I see 
you  are  down  for  the  “Top-knot,”  Edith. 

Edith — Yes.  I used  to  think  that  to  call  the  Koreans  “Top-knots”  was  a term  of 
derision,  but  I find  that  a Korean  regards  his  top-knot  with  the  same  profound  re- 
spect that  a Chinese  feels  for  his  queue.  The  boy  keeps  his  baby  name,  and  is 
treated  with  little  respect  till  he  has  a top-knot.  “The  day  he  assumes  a top-knot 
he  becomes  a man,  though  he  may  not  be  ten  years  old.  A small  round  spot  is 
shaven  on  the  top  of  his  head,  the  hair  is  brought  up  around  this,  into  a twist,  about 
one  inch  in  diameter,  and  three  inches  long.  It  stands  up  straight,  and  is  orna- 
mented.” A horsehair  band,  with  a ribbon  woven  in  one  edge,  is  tied  around  the 
forehead,  in  the  back,  behind  the  ears,  and  in  front.  “Over  all  this  comes  the  hat, 
of  horsehair,  bamboo,  hemp,  flax  or  silk,  through  the  open-work  of  which  the  be- 
loved top-knot  can  be  seen.  The  hat  is  tied  under  the  chin,  with  ribbon  or  beads. 
Ninety-nine  men  out  of  a hundred  put  on  the  top-knot  and  hat  at  the  time  of  mar- 
riage. Once  a man  gets  it  on,  he  wears  it  always  in  company.  He  may  leave  his 
shoes  outside,  but  he  and  the  hat  go  in  together.  When  he  eats,  he  takes  off  his 
outer  garment,  but  the  hat  stays  on.” 

Mary — You  couldn’t  do  that,  George.  But  then,  your  hat  doesn’t  begin  to  be 
so  imposing  as  a Korean  gentleman’s.  Let  us  take  a peep  at  the  capital  next.  By 
the  way,  though  it  is  spelled  Seoul,  you  musfleave  out  the  e,  and  pronounce  it  as  an 
Irishman  says  soul. 

Florence — There  is  a legend  that  Seoul  is  built  on  the  back  of  a dragon,  and 
that  if  you  dig  too  deep  he  will  wriggle  and  make  trouble.  There  are  eight  gates 

5 


AN  EVENING  AMONG  THE  TOP-KNOTS 


to  the  city,  with  a wall  about  forty-two  feet  high.  It  has  200,000  inhabitants,  in- 
cluding 3,000  officials.  There  are  telephones  and  electrics.  High  officials  go  about 
in  sedans,  others  use  ponies  and  donkeys,  or  bullock  carts  that  go  about  two  miles 
an  hour.  Ladies  of  rank  go  in  closed  chairs,  foreigners  use  bicycles,  and  govern- 
ment clerks  jinrikishas.  “Seoul  is  the  Mecca  of  Korea.  What  Seoul  does  and 
thinks,  the  country  does  and  thinks.”  There  are  no  temples  in  the  city,  but  the  best 
kept  building,  in  the  better  class  home,  is  the  room  containing  the  ancestral  tablet, 
where  sacrifices  are  offered  on  the  first  and  fifteenth  of  every  moon.  In  the  yard 
you  will  see  a small  stake,  around  which  straw  is  wrapped;  on  the  top  is  an  old 
sandal,  and  a small  piece  of  white  paper,  in  honor  of  the  god  of  the  site.  (Note: 
This  may  be  easily  imitated.) 

Blind  sorcerers  pick  their  way  through  the  streets  to  the  homes  of  officials,  to 
cast  out  the  evil  spirits  who  are  making  trouble.  While  many  a sorceress  whirls 
and  dances,  drums  beat  and  cymbals  clang,  to  cast  out  some  evil  spirit.  This  is 
Shamanism.  Buddhism  was  once  very  popular,  but  has  now  declined.  Confucian- 
ism is  there,  but  it  is  not  a religion;  it  is  a system  of  ethics. 

Mary — All  over  the  country  ancestral  worship  is  observed.  “Their  interest 
circles  around  the  graves  of  their  dead,  as  much  as  ours  does  about  the  home.  These 
are  sodded  and  resodded,  raked  and  combed  and  brushed,  bowed  over,  spread  with 
food,  sprinkled  with  tears,  entertained  with  wailings,  made  long  pilgrimages  to, 
treasured  as  sacred.  In  fact  it  is  a much  dearer  spot  to  the  family  than  is  their 
family  fireside.  Ancestral  demons,  goblins  and  spirits  all  have  to  be  propitiated 
and  kept  in  good  humor,  or  else  there  is  an  end  to  earthly  prosperity.”  Did  you 
find  a song,  Edith? 

Edith — Yes,  I found  a simple  one.  (Sings.) 


H Korean  folk-song. 


61  - sa  pai  - ddi  - 6 - ra.  JVlun-gyung  sai  - chai  pak- 


tala  - n mu  hong  - do  - kai  pang-mamg-i  ta  na  - kan  da. 


Mary — Thank  you.  We  shall  want  that,  it  is  so  quaint  and  sweet. 
Florence — I found  a funny  little  love  song: 

“That  rock  heaved  up  on  yonder  shore,  Required  for  a cow. 

I’ll  chisel  out,  and  cut  and  score,  And  then  my  love,  if  you  go  'way 

And  mark  the  hair,  and  mark  the  horns,  I’ll  saddle  up  my  bovine  sray. 

And  put  on  feet  and  all  the  turns  And  follow  you  somehow." 


AN  EVENING  AMONG  THE  TOP-KNOTS 


That  sounds  very  brave  for  the  lover,  but  the  facts  are  that  the  father  hunts 
up  a wife  for  him,  he  hunts  up  a marriage  broker  and  states  his  case,  the  broker 
hunts  up  another  broker  who  has  a girl  on  his  hands,  the  parents  are  informed,  and 
letters  pass  between  them,  contracts  are  signed  and  astrologers  are  consulted  as  to 
the  day  for  the  wedding.  The  friends  of  the  groom  help  him  twist  his  hair  into  a 
top-knot.  The  bride’s  friends  put  her  hair  in  a pug,  fastened  with  two  long  pins. 
They  place  a heavy  veil  over  her  head,  and  put  her  in  a closed  chair.  Friends  and 
relatives  follow  and,  with  a goose  at  the  head,  the  procession  starts  out.  When  the 
veil  is  lifted  in  the  home  of  the  groom,  “lucky  is  he,  and  she,  too,  if  the  face  pleases 
him."  Now  she  is  known  as  “the  wife  of  so-and-so,”  and  her  husband  calls  her 
“Come-here.”  All  social  gatherings  are  for  men  and  she  is  seen  by  no  man  but 
her  husband  and  her  father-in-law. 

Mary — I think  you  will  all  be  interested  in  a letter  that  has  come  into  my  hands. 
( Reads) : 

Legation  of  Korea,  Washington,  D.  C.,  April  27,  1905. 

Miss  Cushman: 

As  to  the  ideal  of  a Korean  girl  from  the  standpoint  of  a Korean  gentleman, 
taking  it  for  granted  that  she  possesses  all  the  qualities  of  a virtuous  woman,  she 
should  be  demure,  gentle,  and  always  obedient  to  those  older  than  herself.  Our 
customs  do  not  permit  a young  girl  to  receive  the  attentions  of  a gentleman  without 
the  consent  of  her  parents,  and  they  are  only  allowed  to  see  those  of  their  imme- 
diate family,  so  we  do  not  have  indiscriminate  intercourse  between  our  young 
people. 

I am,  Miss  Cushman,  yours  very  respectfully, 

Teh  Moo  Sin. 

George — I am  afraid  the  gentlemen  of  the  Korean  Legation  get  shocked  in 
America. 

Mary — Yes,  I am,  too.  In  fact,  one  of  the  high  officials  once  said  that  American 
women  bind  their  waists,  Japanese  women  blacken  their  teeth,  Chinese  women 
cripple  their  feet,  but  Korean  women  are  all  right.  So,  you  see,  Korean  women 
are  appreciated,  at  least  by  one  man.  Did  any  one  find  anything  about  their  super- 
stitions? 

Clara — Yes.  They  say  the  smallpox  is  caused  by  the  visitation  of  an  evil  spirit, 
who  lives  in  China,  and  gets  hungry  and  comes  over  to  Korea.  So  they  do  not 
give  any  medicine,  but  make  offerings  to  His  Excellency  the  Smallpox,  hoping  he 
will  soon  be  satisfied  and  go  back  home.  And  one  of  our  missionaries  was  once 
telling  a Korean  about  Christmas,  when  he  said : “Oh,  we  have  something  like 

that,  only  it  is  just  the  opposite,  and  not  at  all  like  it.  On  the  last  day  of  the  year 
a bad  cat  comes  down  and  tries  to  put  its  foot  into  the  shoe  or  stocking  of  even- 
person.  If  he  gets  it  in,  it  brings  death  or  bad  luck.  So  everybody  gathers  up  all 
their  shoes  and  stockings,  and  hides  them,  locking  them  up  securely." 

Henry — Three  cheers  for  Santa!  I’d  -rather  have  him  than  the  old  cat.  (Va-- 
rious  responses  from  all.) 

Mary — This  illustrates  very  well  the  difference  between  heathenism  and  Chris- 
tianity. Let  us  not  forget  to  whom  we  owe  everything  good  and  beautiful  in  our 
lives. 


7 


AN  EVENING  AMONG  THE  TOP-KNOTS 


Henry — The  Koreans  have  a saying,  “Never  hurry,  except  when  you  catch 
fleas.”  We  have  been  talking  about  the  Koreans.  I found  a bit  of  a poem  about 
the  foreigner  in  the  east.  Do  you  want  it? 

All — Oh,  yes.  By  all  means.  Certainly,  etc. 

Henry  reads: 

An  Occidental,  newly  sent,  and  keyed  up  for  the  tussle 
Has  come  to  rouse  the  Orient,  and  teach  it  how  to  hustle. 

The  East,  he  says,  man,  woman,  child,  is  chronically  lazy, 

I’ll  surely  get  a move  on,  or  drive  the  country  crazy. 

He  kicked  his  cook  and  sacked  his  groom,  and  raised  a dire  disaster; 

But  all  in  vain  his  fret  and  fume,  to  move  the  Orient  faster. 

The  horse  he  rode  was  like  his  boy,  whose  maxim  was,  “to-morrow,” 

His  life  became,  instead  of  joy,  accumulated  sorrow, 

His  nerve  gave  out  and  he  was  left  completely  off  the  level, 

And  when  he  died,  the  Orient  smiled,  “A  crazy  foreign  devil.” 

Mary — Oh,  Henry!  Do  you  want  that  in  our  missionary  program? 

Henry — Why  not? 

Mary — I don’t  know  but  it  is  all  right.  I like  it,  but  some  people  might  think 
it — well,  what  do  you  say,  Grace  and  Ruth? 

Grace — I think  it  is  funny.  I like  it.  I don’t  think  it  is  wrong  to  smile  in  a 
missionary  meeting.  It  isn’t  a funeral. 

Others — Yes,  let’s  have  it. 

Mary— All  right.  I see  you  have  a great  deal  more  in  your  hands,  but  I fear 
our  program  will  get  too  long,  and  of  course  we  want  to  hear  about  the  mission- 
aries and  their  work.  Who  was  to  hunt  up  Epworth  Leagues? 

Gladys — I was.  I think  we  might  take  lessons  from  some  of  their  Leagues. 
One  gave  a magic  lantern  exhibition  to  aid  the  famine  sufferers,  and  seven  hundred 
men  and  women  came  out  to  see  pictures  from  the  life  of  our  Lord.  After  it  was 
over  the  committee  sat  about  the  stove  counting  the  door  receipts,  when  suddenly 
a white  bundle  dropped  down,  containing  a letter  and  ten  dollars  in  money.  The 
letter  said : “As  your  noble  church  is  engaged  in  raising  a fund  for  the  destitute 

among  us,  please  do  not  look  upon  the  smallness  of  the  gift,  or  regard  it  as  un- 
clean, but  use  it  to  a good  purpose.”  It  was  signed  “Madam  An,”  but  no  one 
knows  who  it  is,  nor  who  threw  it  over  the  partition. 

Efhe — I wish  our  League  had  a “Madam  An”  to  throw  money  into  our  laps ! 

Gladys — I think  our  League  needs  members  like  Mary  Pak,  more  than  it  needs 
money.  Twice  a month  she  walks  twenty-four  miles  to  attend  the  Epworth 
League.  She  is  only  twenty-one  but  she  is  one  of  God’s  chosen  ones.  Two  years 
ago  they  had  a terrible  famine  in  her  place  and  many  of  the  Christians  were  driven 
away  by  starvation.  When  the  food  gave  out  her  father  called  the  family  to- 
gether and  said,  “We  have  met  the  fate  of  our  neighbors,  and  we,  too,  must  become 
wanderers.”  Then  Mary  spoke:  “Father,  if  we  go,  what  will  become  of  the  church? 
I fear  it  will  be  wiped  out  of  existence,  and  never  come  together  again.  Surely  we 
must  save  the  church.  You  and  mother  go  to  Chemulpo,  where  there  is  food,  and 
remain  till  the  famine  is  over.  I will  stay  here  and  observe  the  Sabbath  and  mid- 
week services,  and  keep  our  little  church  from  disappearing.  God  will  not  let  me 

8 


AN  EVENING  AMONG  THE  TOP-KNOTS 


starve.”  So,  through  those  dark  months,  brave  Mary  Pak  kept  the  lamp  of  the 
Lord  burning  in  that  little  Korean  village.  It  is  of  such  souls  that  the  League  named 
after  Bishop  Moore,  in  Korea,  is  composed. 

Mary — Thank  you,  Gladys.  We  love  to  hear  such  news  of  the  Christians;  it 
makes  us  feel  that  the  work  pays. 

Gladys — Another  Epworth  League  supports  a night  school  for  the  benefit  of 
the  young  business  men.  They  collected  $150,  hired  a room,  prepared  and  pa- 
pered it,  made  benches  for  the  pupils,  bought  matting,  a table  and  chair  for  the 
teacher,  and  a blackboard  and  stove.  Then  they  brought  in  geraniums,  chrysanthe- 
mums and  roses,  and  had  a formal  opening,  with  the  Minister  of  Education  present. 

Mary — Eva,  were  you  not  to  give  us  a little  of  the  history  of  our  mission  work? 

Eva — The  Presbyterians  entered  Korea  about  the  same  time  as  the  Methodists 
and  have  done  splendid  work,  but  I will  simply  tell  you  about  our  own  Church 
work.  In  1882  Japanese  advocated  opening  up  work  in  Korea.  Dr.  John  F. 
Goucher  gave  $2,000  for  the  purpose,  and  in  1884  Rev.  R.  S.  Maclay,  D.  D.,  went  to 
Korea  and  presented  a paper  to  the  King,  telling  of  plans  to  open  a mission.  He 
received  a courteous  reply,  expressing  gratification,  provided  he  was  not  a Catholic. 

The  next  year  Rev.  W.  B.  Scranton,  M.  D.,  with  his  wife,  baby  and  mother, 
arrived  in  Korea.  They  were  soon  followed  by  Rev.  H.  G.  Appenzeller  and  wife. 
The  year  1887  ended  with  four  probationers.  The  capital  of  every  province  had 
been  visited. 

Missionary  work  is  always  slow  at  first,  in  any  country,  for  there  is  the  new, 
strange  language  to  learn  and  the  books  with  which  to  work  must  be  translated. 
But  when  we  remember  that  it  was  fifty  years  before  much  fruit  was  seen  in 
China,  and  in  Japan  they  waited  twelve  years  before  they  organized  their  first 
church,  of  only  six  Christians,  the  spread  of  Christianity  in  Korea  seems  wonderful. 
In  October,  1887,  the  first  public  religious  service  was  held  very  quietly,  in  a little 
chapel,  called  Bethel,  and  the  missionary  had  the  great  pleasure  of  baptizing  the 
first  Korean  woman  Christian.  Our  boys’  school  was  opened  in  1888  and  named 
by  the  King,  “The  Hall  for  the  Training  of  Useful  Men.”  The  King  heard  such 
favorable  reports  from  our  girls’  school  that  he  inscribed  and  sent  a name  for 
each  department. 

A Korean  once  said,  “Were  there  many  such  firm  hearts  as  that  of  Dr.  Scran- 
ton, naturally  our  hearts  would  be  broken  open.” 

Gladys — How  did  our  woman’s  work  begin? 

Eva — I found  something  about  that  in  the  Korean  Repository.  It  says : “Mrs. 
M.  F.  Scranton  was  the  pioneer  founder  and  missionary  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  and  she  will  always  hold  an  honorable  place.  Of  great  execu- 
tive ability,  disinterested  devotion,  burning  zeal,  kind,  thoughtful,  patient,  she  has 
drawn  to  herself  many  Korean  women  who  look  to  her  as  their  best  friend.  When 
she  left  for  America,  many  men  and  women  walked  three  miles  to  the  river,  crossed 
over  in  boats,  kneeled  down,  prayed  and  wept  sore,  sorrowing  most  of  all  lest  they 
see  her  face  no  more.  We  should  thank  God  that  He  has  spared  her  to  return  to 
them.” 

We  were  fortunate  in  having  such  people  lay  the  foundation  of  our  work  as 

9 


AN  EVENING  AMONG  THE  TOP-KNOTS 


the  Scrantons  and  Appenzellers.  Other  workers  equally  good  have  built  upon  their 
foundation.  One  of  our  districts,  alone,  reports  3,000  natives  connected  with  it,  thirty 
churches  and  chapels,  and  $500  raised  for  self-support.  In  Pyeng  Yang,  the  church, 
seating  2,000,  is  often  too  small  for  all  who  wish  to  attend. 

To-day  there  are  in  Korea  more  than  sixty  missionaries  of  all  denominations, 
with  over  800  churches,  and  a total  of  over  40,000  who  call  themselves  Christians. 
Last  year  there  was  added  an  average  of  fifty  a week  into  full  communion  in 
the  various  missions. 

Mary — We  should  like  to  hear  more  about  what  kind  of  Christians  they  make. 

Edith — I think  they  must  be  pretty  true-hearted,  for  some  of  them  went  down 
to  Hawaii  to  get  work,  and  a missionary  writes:  “Of  those  who  came  three  hundred 
are  Christians.  They  are  very  faithful  and  will  not  work  on  Sundays.  They  unfurl 
their  church  flag  and  spend  most  of  their  time  in  worship  and  Bible  study.  Wher- 
ever there  are  Koreans,  they  have  preaching  and  prayer  and  class  meetings.  They 
have  rented  headquarters  in  Honolulu,  with  large  rooms  for  worship,  and  a night 
school.”  I am  glad  they  have  the  New  Testament  and  parts  of  the  Old  translated, 
for  I think  the  work  will  grow  faster  now. 

Mary — Certainly  it  will.  Who  was  to  tell  us  about  the  translation? 

Eihc — It  took  a long  time  to  agree  upon  what  to  call  God,  and  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  Jesus,  for  they  had  never  had  those  words  in  their  language.  They  had  no 
native  assistants  trained  for  such  work,  and  the  missionaries  were  very  busy.  It 
took  ten  years  to  get  the  four  Gospels,  and  Acts  and  Romans,  and  then  they  were 
not  perfect.  At  last  they  met  every  day  at  ten  o’clock,  three  missionaries  and  their 
assistants,  with  our  Dr.  George  Heber  Jones  as  secretary.  Then  the  first  printing 
had  to  be  done  in  Japan.  Now  they  have  a Korean  press.  The  Koreans  love  the 
Bible.  Old  Mr.  Yi,  who  died  last  year,  was  never  known  to  be  without  his  testa- 
ment in  his  hand,  except  when  he  was  eating  or  sleeping. 

Mary — I want  you  to  know  about  the  workers  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  and  so  I have  written  their  names  and  stations  upon  a big  sheet  of 
paper.  Here  it  is.  ( Holds  it  up.  See  foot  note.*)  There  is  so  much  to  tell  about 

all  this  work  that  we  cannot  get  it  all  into  one  evening,  but  tell  us  a bit  about  our 

Girls’  School  in  Seoul,  Florence. 

Florence— One  day  our  school  was  opened  to  the  public,  for  all  who  wished  to 
come.  Six  hundred  and  forty-seven  visitors  came  that  day. 

The  girls  breakfast  at  seven,  and  school  begins  at  eight.  They  study  English, 
and  mathematics  and  general  history,  and  the  native  language,  but  most  important 
of  all,  the  Bible.  After  dinner,  the  noon  prayer  bell  rings.  If  you  step  quietly  into 

* SEOUL.  Schools,  Josephine  O.  Paine,  Lulu  E.  Frey.  Hospital,  Mary  M.  Cutler,  M.  D. 
Nurses'  Training  School,  Margaret  J.  Edmunds.  Evangelistic  IVork,  Minerva  Guthafel,  Ella  A. 
Lewis. 

CHEMULPO.  Evangelistic  Work  and  Day  Schools,  Mary  R.  Hillman,  Lula  A.  Miller. 

PYENG  YANG.  Evangelistic  Work  and  Day  Schools,  Ethel  M.  Estey,  Henrietta  P.  Robbins. 
Hospital  and  Blind  School,  Rosetta  S.  Hall,  M.  D.,  Esther  K.  Pak,  M.  D.,  Assistant.  Home  on 
leave,  Emma  Ernsberger,  M.  D.,  Josephine  O.  Paine.  (These  are  the  statistics  for  1904-5.  For 
later  ones,  see  the  General  Executive  Report,  price  ten  cents,  at  depots  of  supplies;  or  General 
Secretary  of  Young  People’s  Work.) 


10 


AN  EVENING  AMONG  THE  TOP-KNOTS 


the  hall  you  will  hear  them  in  their  rooms  praying.  Miss  Frey,  their  teacher,  says: 
"Fifteen  minutes  alone  with  Jesus  every  day  does  more  for  our  girls  than  we  are 
able  to  tell.”  School  is  out  at  four,  and  the  little  girls  are  quite  ready  to  play. 
The  older  ones  find  their  sewing,  for  each  girl  has  the  care  of  two  or  more  girls. 

Mary — Last  year  our  lady  doctors  treated  more  than  10,000  patients.  Our 
Training  School  for  Nurses  is  the  only  one  in  Korea.  Often  as  many  as  fifty 
women  attend  the  Friday  morning  prayer  meeting,  held  in  a large  church ; at  the 
regular  Sunday  service  many  of  the  women  have  to  sit  upon  the  floor  in  the  aisle. 
We  have  a large  number  of  Bible  women  who  are  doing  splendid  work. 

Clara — I should  like  to  put  in  what  I found  about  the  country  work.  The 
country  women  receive  little  instruction,  except  when  the  missionaries  visit  them, 
so  they  go  to  them  as  often  as  possible.  They  preach  salvation  from  dirt,  as  well 
as  salvation  from  sin,  and  tell  the  women  if  they  are  going  to  be  Jesus’  disciples, 
they  must  be  cleaner  and  look  a great  deal  nicer  than  their  neighbors,  who  know 
nothing  of  Him.  One  poor  old  lady  who  was  exhorted  to  go  to  Heaven,  said  it 
would  be  very  good,  but  added  in  alarm,  ‘‘What  if  I should  fall  out,  what  then !” 
Oh,  how  they  need  instruction  and  help!  In  one  of  Mrs.  Scranton’s  trips,  one  wo- 
man testified  that  since  she  became  Jesus’  disciple,  there  was  no  more  quarreling  in 
the  house.  Another  said,  “My  old  heart  is  all  dead.”  Another  begged  her  to  sing 
again  that  song  about  that  dying  thief. 

In  one  place  where  she  could  stop  but  a short  time,  the  woman  begged  her  to 
stay,  saying,  “I  am  seventy  years  old,  I shall  soon  die,  I want  to  know  more  about 
the  Heaven-sure-going  road.”  I think  it  is  just  awful  for  a missionary  to  have  to 
go  off  and  leave  such  a poor  old  woman,  with  nobody  to  help  her ! It  almost  makes 
me  feel  like  going  myself. 

Mary — The  missionaries  are  just  begging  for  more  helpers.  Wouldn’t  it  be 
splendid  if  some  one  could  go  from  our  society?  Just  think  how  those  Bible- 
women  work  after  they  are  trained ! During  the  past  year  one  of  them  taught 
1,861  people,  and  visited  753  homes.  It  must  be  grand  to  help  fit  women  for  such 
service.  I think  it  pays. 

Clara — I did  not  quite  finish.  One  of  the  missionaries  tells  of  a visit  in  the 
home  of  a Christian.  “At  evening  time  the  husband  came  in,  and  we  sat  on  the 
open  porch,  looking  out  over  the  rice  fields,  and  there  was  peace  and  quiet  in  our 
hearts.  Only  a short  time  before  their  only  child  had  died.  He  was  just  an  ordi- 
nary man,  and  he  said,  ‘I  saw  that  she  was  worse,  and  I walked  to  town,  three  and 
a half  miles,  for  medicine,  but  when  I returned  I saw  that  she  was  beyond  hope. 
I could  only  hold  her  in  my  arms  and  say,  “My  God,  my  God,  my  God !”  When  she 
was  dead,  I dug  a hole  and  laid  her  away.  Then  over  her  grave  we  sang,  ‘Jesus 
loves  me.’  ” 

Mary — Is  it  not  beautiful  that  he  had  learned  to  look  to  God,  and  that  some 
one  had  taught  him  to  sing,  so  that  in  his  sorrow,  he  had  one  little  song;  so  that 
when  he  laid  his  only  little  girl  in  the  hole,  he  could  sing  “Jesus  loves  me”?  Miss 
Paine  very  kindly  sent  me  the  words  in  Korean  and  I have  written  off  the  chorus, 


11 


AN  EVENING  AMONG  THE  TOP-KNOTS 


which  is  very  simple,  and  if  Edith  (or  someone  who  can  sing)  will  sing  the  verses, 
to  close  our  meeting,  we  can  all  sing  the  chorus.  (Passes  the  chorus  to  the  others.) 


Chu  sa-rang  nai  al-gi-nan, 
Sung-so  mal-sam  pun-myung-hai, 
O-rin  a-hai  Chu  mat-tu, 

Yun-yak  ham-eul  put-ten  nai. 


Sa-rang  ha-yo  nom  pa  ryo, 
Nai-ni  Chai-ak  ta  si-go, 
Ha-nal  mun  yor-o  chu-o, 
A-hai  teu-ro  ka-gai  hai. 


Chorus — Ye-su  nai  sarang, 
Ye-su  nai  sa-rang, 
Ye-su  nai  sa-rang, 
Sung-so-e  mal  is-so. 


Suggestions. — Korean  costumes  may  be  easily  improvised  with  kimonos,  and 
white  skirts  tied  up  high  under  the  arms,  to  represent  short-waisted  dresses.  Comb 
the  hair  smoothly,  parting  in  the  middle,  with  long  braids  for  girls,  and  coils  for 
women.  To  represent  women  on  the  street,  bind  a handkerchief  around  the  fore- 
head, and  use  a long  kimono  pinned  under  the  chin,  and  a small  girl  going  ahead 
carrying  a lantern.  For  a rainy  day  scene,  two  men  dressed  in  Korean  style,  with 
two  inverted  clothes  baskets  for  rain  hats.  In  the  ironing  scene,  a little  .girl  turns 
the  stick,  while  the  women  beat  the  cloth. 

If  the  exercise  is  too  long,  some  of  the  parts  can  be  readily  omitted. 

Any  light  refreshments  may  be  served  with  chopsticks.  As  sweetmeats,  serve 
candies,  small  fruits,  peanuts,  or  food  cut  in  small  pieces. 


KOREAN  LEAFLETS 


Korea  and  Tibet,  Flag  Series  .... 

5 cents 

The  Korean  Woman  ..... 

2 cents 

A Woman  Doctor  in  the  Land  of  Morning  Calm 

2 cents 

Esther  Kim  Pak  ...... 

3 cents 

The  Little  Missionaries  in  Korea 

2 cents 

All  Post-paid 

Address : 

Pauline  J.  Walden,  36  Bromfield  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 


